A lack of safety measures has cost a scaffolder more than £12,000 after he appeared in court for putting employees and members of the public at risk, including in Helston.

Anthony Dale, of Roskear Parc, Tuckingmill, Camborne, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(2) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Appearing before Truro's magistrates' court he was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £4,114 in costs.

The court heard that among the incidents was a sighting of Dale and his employees working on scaffolding at a property in Helston's Coinagehall Street last year with no edge protection, such as railings, or safety equipment such as harnesses.

These would have prevented or mitigated the effects of any falls and helped safeguard themselves and any members of the public walking below.

The court heard that initially an inspector from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had seen workers on scaffolding with no edge protection or safety equipment at a property in Cranberry Road, Camborne, in March 2012.

The inspector issued an immediate prohibition notice on Dale's scaffolding company, halting any further work at the site until improvements were made.

Following an investigation into Dale on another matter, Cornwall Council sent pictures to the HSE showing him and his workers again working on scaffolding without the necessary requirements, including in Chapel Street, Penzance.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Barry Trudgian said: “Work at height is the biggest single cause of fatal and serious injury in the construction industry. Anthony Dale's reckless disregard of basic safety precautions demonstrates a totally a cavalier approach to the health and well-being of his workers and of passers-by, let alone himself.

“The risks of working at height are widely-known and recognised and there is a wealth of guidance available from HSE and the industry. There can really be no excuse for not putting basic precautions in place.